The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of a 135.87 km, four-lane access-controlled Guwahati–Tezpur Corridor on NH-15 at an estimated cost of ₹8,970.20 crore to improve connectivity, reduce travel time and boost economic development in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Key Highlights

• The project has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister. 
• It will be implemented under the National Highways (Original) Programme through the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Toll Model.
• The objective is to provide faster, safer and seamless connectivity, reduce congestion on the existing NH-15, strengthen regional logistics and improve connectivity to strategic locations in Northeast India.
• The greenfield access-controlled highway is designed for a speed of 100 kmph and will reduce travel time between Guwahati and Tezpur from 3.5 hours to about 1.7 hours.
• The corridor includes major infrastructure components, such as 15 major bridges, 30 minor bridges, 19 flyovers, 46 underpasses, five bypasses (58.7 km), an elephant underpass, and nearly 210 km of service roads.
• A 4.9-km Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) will be constructed on the Tezpur Bypass in coordination with the Indian Air Force, enhancing strategic defence preparedness.
• The project will improve connectivity to eight PM Gati Shakti economic nodes, two Aspirational Districts (Darrang and Udalguri), seven logistics hubs, and major tourist destinations including Kaziranga National Park, Orang National Park and Maa Kamakhya Temple.
• NH-15 serves as a strategic transport corridor, connecting NH-27, NH-515, the upcoming Brahmaputra Tunnel, and the Frontier Highway (NH-13), thereby strengthening connectivity with Arunachal Pradesh and border regions.

Why is the Corridor Important?

• It will improve regional trade, tourism and industrial growth by providing faster movement of goods and people.
• It will strengthen defence logistics in the strategically important Northeast.
• It supports the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which promotes integrated multi-modal infrastructure for economic growth.

Exam Hook – Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Guwahati–Tezpur NH-15 Corridor:

1. It will be developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Toll Model.
2. The corridor includes an Emergency Landing Facility for defence purposes.
3. It forms part of the PM Gati Shakti vision for integrated infrastructure development.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 only

Answer: (c)

One-line Wrap

The Guwahati–Tezpur NH-15 Corridor will become a strategic transport backbone, improving economic integration, defence mobility and sustainable connectivity across Assam and the Northeast.